Fabrication and characterization of 3-D Cf/ZrC composites by low-temperature liquid metal infiltration

Three-dimensional braided carbon fiber-reinforced ZrC matrix composite, 3-D Cf/ZrC, were prepared by liquid metal infiltration process at 1200 °C using a Zr2Cu intermetallic compound as infiltrator. The microstructure and properties of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that ZrC with a yield of 35.2 ± 1.8 vol.% was certified as the major phase of the composites. The formation of ZrC was controlled by a solution-precipitation mechanism. The obtained composites exhibited good mechanical properties, with a flexural strength of 293.0 ± 12.1 MPa, a flexural modulus of 82.7 ± 6.4 GPa and a fracture toughness of 9.8 ± 0.9 MPa m1/2. The mass and linear ablation rates of the composites exposed to oxyacetylene torch were 0.0013 ± 0.0005 g s−1 and −0.0009 ± 0.0003 mm s−1, respectively. The formation of a dense ZrO2 protective layer and the evaporation of residual Cu contributed mainly to the excellent ablation resistance.